JP2001351062A - Method for recognizing magnetic pattern, information recording medium, magnetic pattern recognition device, and composite processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a magnetic pattern recognition method, its device, an information recording medium and a composite processor capable of recognizing a magnetic pattern of a bent state and a magnetic pattern of a non-bent state which are printed on check paper by converting the peak interval of a detecting magnetic waveform acquired from the magnetic pattern into a bar interval pattern. SOLUTION: In a step S402, the detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern is segmented from an acquired detecting magnetic waveform, and in a step S403, plural peak intervals of the segmented detecting magnetic waveform are measured. In a step S404, plural bar intervals of the magnetic pattern are calculated from the measured peak intervals and each of the calculated bar intervals is converted into a 'wide' interval or a 'narrow' interval of the bar interval pattern on the basis of pattern conversion consisting of two steps, S405 and S412. In a step S409, a character is recognized from the bar interval pattern of one converted magnetic pattern on the basis of a correspondence table between bar interval patterns and characters.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a magnetic pattern recognition method, an information recording medium, a magnetic pattern recognition device, and a multifunction device. In particular, in the method of recognizing a magnetic pattern, a method of recognizing a magnetic pattern, comprising the steps of converting a peak interval of a detected magnetic waveform obtained from a magnetic pattern into a bar interval pattern and recognizing the interval as a number and a symbol, The present invention relates to a pattern recognition device and a multifunction device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, magnetic ink characters have been used in financial institutions and the like, and check sheets or the like on which magnetic ink characters have been printed are selected by a magnetic pattern recognition device, and operations such as tabulation are performed. Was. Many personal checks, like cash and cards, are often used for shopping at stores. On the surface of the personal check, the customer account, the serial number of the personal check, and the like are printed with magnetic ink characters (MICR characters, Magnetic Ink Character).
Recognition), and the validity / invalidity of the personal check can be confirmed by reading the magnetic ink characters with a magnetic head and referring to these data.

[0003] For this reason, devices for recognizing magnetic ink are installed at accounting stations (POS stations) of each store. Many of these devices use a DC motor to provide personal check paper. The magnetic head recognizes magnetic ink characters while transporting the ink.

[0004] As MICR characters, there are CMC7 fonts used in Europe and South America, and E13B fonts mainly used in North America. Hereinafter, a description will be given using a MICR character CMC7 font (hereinafter, referred to as MICR-CMC7 font character) which is a magnetic ink character.

[0005] In the CMC7 check standard printed using MICR-CMC7 font characters, there are 10 types of numbers, 5 types of symbols, and 26 types of alphabets as fonts.

[0006] MICR-CMC7 font characters are magnetic barcodes. One character is composed of seven bars, and the character is recognized by a combination of a “wide” interval (= 1) or a “narrow” interval (= 0) in which six adjacent bars formed by two adjacent bars are spaced apart. . MICR-CMC
Assuming that the number of "wide" bar intervals is N1 and the number of "narrow" intervals is 7 in 7 font characters, the numbers and symbols are N1: N0 = 2: 4, and the alphabet is N
1: N0 = 1: 5 or N1: N0 = 3: 3.

FIG. 6 shows an example of numbers and symbols of MICR-CMC7 font characters. FIG. 7 shows the MICR-CMC
7 font characters are converted to a "wide" space (=
1) or a correspondence table represented by a combination pattern of “narrow” intervals (= 0) (hereinafter, referred to as a “bar interval pattern”).

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION At present, MICR-CMI7 is used for CMC7 check paper on the market.
CMC7 font characters are only numbers and symbols, and no alphabet is used. Therefore, when the number of “wide” intervals of the bar intervals is N1 and the number of “narrow” intervals is N0, the determination conditions for character recognition are N1 and N0.
Is important. That is, if N1: N0 = 2: 4, it can be determined that the number or symbol is used.

[0009] However, when the CMC7 check paper is folded, the CMC7 check paper physically shrinks at the fold. Therefore, due to the physical contraction of the fold, the detected magnetic waveform obtained by reading the folded CMC7 check sheet by the magnetic head is also affected by the contraction.

When there is a fold on a font, there is a possibility that a bar interval which should be a "wide" interval is determined to be a "narrow" interval due to physical shrinkage of a fold portion. is there. Therefore, when the number of “wide” intervals of the bar intervals is N1 and the number of “narrow” intervals is N0, N1: N0 = 2: 4, which should be a number or a symbol.
However, there is a possibility that N1: N0 = 1: 5, and it cannot be recognized as a number or a symbol.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams for explaining the reduction of the bar interval due to the fold when the fold exists on the font of the CMC7 check paper. Here, the MICR-CMC7 font character used in the description is the symbol “SV”. Also, the fold axis is parallel to the long axis of the bar.

FIG. 8A is a diagram in which the CMC7 check sheet before bending is cut along a plane perpendicular to the fold axis. FIG. 8B is a diagram in which the folded CMC7 check paper is cut along a plane perpendicular to the fold axis. FIG.
(C) is a figure explaining bar interval before bending. FIG. 8D is a diagram illustrating the bar interval after bending.

[0013] As shown in FIG.
When the value is set to 02, the CMC 7 check paper 804 is moved in the paper feed direction, and the detected magnetic waveform is acquired by the magnetic head 801. At this time, the reading direction of the detected magnetic waveform by the magnetic head 801 is indicated by an arrow 803.
MICR-CMC7 7 bars of font characters into bar 8
Starting from 05a, the bar is 805g. The interval between six bars formed by two adjacent bars before bending is set to a bar interval 806f from the bar interval 806a, and the interval between six bars formed by two adjacent bars after bending is set to a bar interval from the bar interval 808a. 808f, and the bent position is a fold 807. Here, the reading direction of the magnetic head 801 is a direction orthogonal to the long axis of the bar. The distance between the near end of the bar that is read first with respect to the magnetic head 801 and the near end of the bar that is read next is defined as a bar interval. That is, in FIG. 8, the distance between the right ends of two adjacent bars is the bar interval.

When the bar interval before bending is represented by a “wide” interval (= 1) and a “narrow” interval (= 0), the bar interval 806a is 0, the bar interval 806b is 0, and the bar interval 806c is 0. The bar interval 806d is 0, the bar interval 806
e is 1 and the bar interval 806f is 1. That is, MICR
The bar interval pattern of one character of the CMC7 font character is “0000011”, and the symbol “SV” is obtained from the table of FIG.
Can be recognized.

On the other hand, if the fold 807 is located between the bars 805e and 805f, the CMC7 check paper shrinks near the fold 807. That is, the bar interval 80 sandwiching the fold 807
8e becomes narrower than before bending. When the bar interval after bending is represented by a “wide” interval (= 1) and a “narrow” interval (= 0), the bar interval 808a is 0, the bar interval 808b is 0, the bar interval 808c is 0, and the bar interval 808d. Is 0, bar interval 808e is 0, bar interval 808
f becomes 1. That is, the bar interval pattern for one MICR-CMC7 font character is “000001”, which can be recognized as an alphabet, but the symbol “S
V "cannot be recognized.

The shrinkage of the CMC7 check sheet described above is
A description will be given using a detected magnetic waveform acquired by the magnetic head 801.

FIG. 9A shows a magnetic bar code MI.
It is a figure which shows the relationship between the bar of CR-CMC7 font character, and a detected magnetic waveform. Here, the reading direction of the magnetic head is indicated by an arrow 901, and the bars of the MICR-CMC7 font characters are indicated by bars 902a to 902g. In addition, the end of the bar perpendicular to the reading direction on the side where the magnetic head reads quickly is moved from the bar right end 904a to the bar right end 90a.
4g, and the end of the bar perpendicular to the reading direction on the side that is read late by the magnetic head is from the left end of the bar 903a to the left end of the bar 903g, and the bar interval between two adjacent bars of the MICR-CMC7 font character is expressed as Interval 905
The bar interval is 905f from a.

The detected magnetic waveform is obtained by measuring a change in magnetic flux density due to a magnetized bar of the CMC7 check paper as a voltage change.

Therefore, the detected magnetic waveform becomes a differential waveform,
At the position of the end of the bar, the waveform has an extreme value. That is, at the position from the bar right end 904a to the bar right end 904g, the detected magnetic waveform has a maximum value (hereinafter, referred to as a peak), and the bar left end 903a to the bar left end 903.
At the position g, the detected magnetic waveform has a minimum value (hereinafter, referred to as a bottom peak).

The bar interval 905a to the bar interval 90
5f is associated with a peak interval 906a to a peak interval 906f which is a distance between adjacent peaks of the detected magnetic waveform. That is, the "wide" bar interval is a "wide" peak interval, and the "narrow" bar interval is a "narrow" peak interval.

FIG. 9 (b) shows the detected magnetic waveform before the MICR-CMC7 font character is folded and the folded magnetic wave after folding the fold 807 between the bars 805e and 805f as shown in FIG. It is a figure showing a detected magnetic waveform.

A detected magnetic waveform before bending the MICR-CMC7 font character is represented by a waveform 911 indicated by a solid line, and a detected magnetic waveform after the bending is represented by a waveform 912 indicated by a dotted line. Further, the peak interval of the waveform 911 is changed from the peak interval 913a to the peak interval 913f, and the waveform 912 is set.
From the peak interval 914a to the peak interval 91
4f. Here, in FIG. 9B, the reading direction of the detected magnetic waveform is indicated by an arrow 910.

When the peak interval of the waveform 911 before bending is represented by a “wide” interval (= 1) and a “narrow” interval (= 0), the peak interval 913 a is 0, and the peak interval 9
13b is 0, peak interval 913c is 0, peak interval 91
3d is 0, peak interval 913e is 1, peak interval 913
f becomes 1. That is, FIG. 8 corresponding to the peak interval
The bar interval 808a is 0, the bar interval 808 is
b is 0, bar interval 808c is 0, bar interval 808d is 0, bar interval 808e is 1, bar interval 808f is 1, and the bar interval pattern for one character of the MICR-CMC7 font character is "0000011". Can be recognized from the table as “SV”.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bar interval 808e is narrowed by the fold line 807. Therefore, since the peak interval of the detected magnetic waveform corresponds to the bar interval, the peak interval 914e of the waveform 912 after bending is narrower than the peak interval 913e of the waveform 911 before bending. When the peak interval of the folded waveform 912 is represented by a “wide” interval (= 1) and a “narrow” interval (= 0), the peak interval 914 a is 0, the peak interval 914 b is 0, and the peak interval 914 c is 0. , The peak interval 914d is 0, the peak interval 914e is 0, and the peak interval 914f is 1
Becomes That is, the bar intervals in FIG. 8 associated with the peak intervals are as follows: bar interval 808a is 0, bar interval 808b is 0, bar interval 808c is 0, bar interval 808d is 0, bar interval 808e is 0, and bar interval 808f is 1 And M
The bar interval pattern for one character of the ICR-CMC7 font character is “000001”, which can be recognized as an alphabet but not as a symbol “SV”.

Therefore, although the printing standard prohibits folding of the CMC7 check paper, in the actual market, it may be folded and carried, and therefore, the conventional magnetic pattern recognition device may not be able to print characters. There has been a problem that characters cannot be recognized or characters are erroneously recognized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a magnetic pattern recognition method, an information recording medium, a magnetic pattern recognition device, and a multifunction device including a step of converting a peak interval of an obtained detected magnetic waveform into a bar interval pattern and recognizing numerals and symbols. Aim.

[0027]

Means for Solving the Problems The present inventor has conducted studies to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. As a result, it has been found that a folded magnetic pattern on a check sheet on which a magnetic pattern is printed can be recognized as a character by the following method.

In recognizing a magnetic pattern, a detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern is cut out from the obtained detected magnetic waveform. A plurality of peak intervals of the extracted detected magnetic waveform are measured. A plurality of bar intervals of the magnetic pattern are calculated from the plurality of measured peak intervals. Each of the calculated plurality of bar intervals is converted into a “wide” interval or a “narrow” interval of the bar interval pattern based on a two-step determination condition. From the converted bar interval pattern of one magnetic pattern, based on the bar interval pattern and character correspondence table,
Recognize characters.

Based on the above research results, the following invention is provided.

In a first aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition method of the present invention, a magnetic field is detected in a region formed by a plurality of bars and provided with a plurality of predetermined magnetic patterns.
A magnetic pattern reading step of obtaining a peak interval representing a distance between two adjacent peaks of the plurality of peaks from a detected magnetic waveform of the detected magnetic pattern; and a plurality of peak intervals obtained in this manner. A magnetic pattern recognition step of recognizing the magnetic pattern as a predetermined character by converting a width between two adjacent bars into a bar interval pattern represented by two values. This is a pattern recognition method. For example, in the case of MICR-CMC7 font characters, a step of converting the peak interval of the detected magnetic waveform acquired by the magnetic head into a bar interval pattern, comparing the converted bar interval pattern with the correspondence table of FIG. 7, and recognizing the character. It has.

According to a second aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition method of the present invention, the magnetic pattern recognition step is a step of determining a distance between two adjacent bars of a plurality of bars constituting a magnetic pattern from a detected magnetic waveform. A bar interval calculating step of calculating an interval, a pattern converting step of converting the bar interval calculated in the bar interval calculating step into a bar interval pattern of “wide” or “narrow” interval, and 1 A magnetic pattern determining step of determining a magnetic pattern from the bar interval patterns of the two magnetic patterns. For example, when the bar interval is “wide”, the bar interval pattern is set to 1; when the bar interval is “narrow”, the bar interval pattern is set to 0.

In a third aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition method according to the present invention, the pattern conversion step sets the bar interval pattern of the bar interval to "wide" when the bar interval is greater than or equal to a maximum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range. And a bar interval pattern of the bar interval is determined to be a "narrow" interval when the bar interval is equal to or smaller than a minimum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range.
That is, this is a method for recognizing a magnetic pattern provided with a method for reliably determining a bar interval in which a bar interval pattern is a “wide” interval.

According to a fourth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition method of the present invention, the pattern conversion step includes the steps of determining the number of “wide” and “narrow” intervals of the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern. Is 1: 5 and there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals, the bar interval pattern of the second widest bar interval is set to “ This is a method for recognizing a magnetic pattern, which is characterized by determining a "wide" interval. For example, in the case of the MICR-CMC7 font character, when the ratio of the number of “wide” spaces to the number of “narrow” spaces is 1: 5, the MICR-CMC7 font characters are folded, and thus “wide”. There may be bar spacings where the spacing is "narrow". Therefore, the MIC
This is a magnetic pattern recognition method provided with determining a bar interval in which a “wide” interval is a “narrow” interval because an R-CMC7 font character is bent.

According to a fifth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognizing method of the present invention, the pattern conversion step is such that, in one magnetic pattern, the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals; When the median of the predetermined determination boundary range and the predetermined adjustment coefficient satisfy the following conditions,
A magnetic pattern recognition method characterized by determining that there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals.

Second widest bar interval> = Third widest bar interval + (median of determination boundary range-Third widest bar interval) * Adjustment coefficient Here, * means multiplication.

In a sixth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognizing method according to the present invention, the magnetic pattern determining step includes determining the number of "wide" intervals and the number of "narrow" intervals of the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern. The magnetic pattern recognition method is characterized in that when the ratio is 2: 4, the magnetic pattern can be uniquely determined.

In a seventh aspect of the magnetic pattern recognizing method according to the present invention, the magnetic pattern reading step comprises: a magnetic pattern detecting step of obtaining a detected magnetic waveform and a detection condition; and a detected magnetic waveform obtained by the magnetic pattern detecting step. From a plurality of peaks of the detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern cut out by the magnetic pattern cutting step, which cuts out the detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern from And a peak interval measuring step of measuring a distance. For example, as a detection condition, a speed at which a sheet of CMC7 check is read is required. The detected magnetic waveform obtained differs depending on the reading speed.

An eighth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognizing method according to the present invention is a magnetic pattern recognizing method characterized by further comprising a judgment condition changing step for changing a judgment condition for recognizing a magnetic pattern. is there.

A ninth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition method according to the present invention is a magnetic pattern recognition method characterized in that an adjustment coefficient can be changed as a determination condition.

A tenth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition method according to the present invention is a magnetic pattern recognition method, wherein the magnetic pattern is a magnetic ink character.

The first aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention is an information recording medium in which a program having the steps of the above-described magnetic pattern recognition method is recorded.

The second aspect of the information recording medium of the present invention is a compact disk, a floppy disk,
It is a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk, or a magnetic tape.

A first aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition apparatus of the present invention is to detect a magnetic field in a region formed by a plurality of bars and having a plurality of predetermined magnetic patterns, and to detect the detected magnetic pattern. Magnetic pattern reading means for acquiring a peak interval indicating a distance between two adjacent peaks of a plurality of peaks from a magnetic waveform; and obtaining a plurality of adjacent bars of a plurality of bars from the plurality of peak intervals thus acquired.
A magnetic pattern recognizing means for recognizing a magnetic pattern as a predetermined character by converting a width between two bars into a bar interval pattern represented by two values. .

According to a second aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention, the magnetic pattern recognition means uses a bar interval which is a distance between two adjacent bars of a plurality of bars constituting a magnetic pattern from a detected magnetic waveform. , A pattern conversion unit that converts the bar interval calculated by the bar interval calculation unit into a bar interval pattern having a “wide” interval or a “narrow” interval, and one converted by the pattern conversion unit. And a magnetic pattern determining means for determining a magnetic pattern from the bar interval pattern of the minute magnetic pattern.

According to a third aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention, the pattern conversion means sets the bar interval pattern of the bar interval to "wide" when the bar interval is greater than or equal to a maximum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range. The magnetic pattern recognition device is characterized in that a bar interval pattern of the bar interval is determined as a “narrow” interval when the bar interval is determined to be an interval and the bar interval is equal to or smaller than a minimum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range.

According to a fourth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition apparatus of the present invention, the putter converting means determines whether the number of "wide" intervals and the number of "narrow" intervals in the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern. When the ratio is 1: 5 and there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals, the bar interval pattern of the second widest bar interval is defined as “ The magnetic pattern recognition device is characterized by determining that the interval is "wide".

According to a fifth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention, the pattern conversion means is arranged so that, in one magnetic pattern, the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals are used. Median of the judgment boundary range of
A magnetic pattern recognition device for determining that there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals when the predetermined adjustment coefficient satisfies the following condition: It is.

Second Widest Bar Interval> = Third Widest Bar Interval + (Median of Judgment Boundary Range−Third Widest Bar Interval) * Adjustment Coefficient The sixth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention is as follows. The magnetic pattern determining means determines the number of “wide” intervals of the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern as “narrow”
A magnetic pattern recognition apparatus characterized in that a magnetic pattern can be uniquely determined when the ratio of the number of intervals to the number of intervals is 2: 4.

According to a seventh aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention, the magnetic pattern reading means includes a magnetic pattern detecting means for acquiring a detected magnetic waveform and a detecting condition;
Magnetic pattern cutout means for cutting out a detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern from the detected magnetic waveform acquired by the magnetic pattern detecting means, and a plurality of peaks of the detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern cut out by the magnetic pattern cutout means And a peak interval measuring means for measuring a distance between two adjacent peaks.

An eighth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device according to the present invention is a magnetic pattern recognition device further comprising a judgment condition changing means for changing a judgment condition for recognizing a magnetic pattern.

A ninth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device according to the present invention is a magnetic pattern recognition device characterized in that an adjustment coefficient can be changed as a determination condition.

A tenth aspect of the magnetic pattern recognition device according to the present invention is a magnetic pattern recognition device, wherein the magnetic pattern is a magnetic ink character.

A first aspect of the multifunction device of the present invention is a multifunction device including the means of the magnetic pattern recognition device described above.

A second aspect of the multifunction device according to the present invention is a paper feeding means provided with a pulse motor, a printing means for printing on a paper piece sent by the paper feeding means, and a paper piece sent by the paper feeding means. And a magnetic detecting means for detecting a magnetic pattern attached to the multi-processing device.

Further, according to the method of reading CMC7 characters of the present invention, in the method of reading CMC7 characters on a check sheet having a wide bar interval and a narrow bar interval, the interval between adjacent bars is wide or narrow. The method includes a first determination step of determining whether the distance is a distance, and a second determination step of determining whether the number determined as the wide distance is a first predetermined number.

Further, in the second determining step, when it is determined that the number determined to be the wide distance is a second predetermined number different from the first predetermined number, further determining that the distance adjacent to the bar is A step of rearranging the matching intervals in the order of adjacent intervals is provided.

Further, the first judging step has a first threshold for judging whether the distance is wide and a second threshold different from the first threshold for judging whether the distance is short. It is characterized by.

Further, among the intervals rearranged in the second rearranging step, a second widest interval is provided;
The method further includes a third determining step of determining whether an interval from a third wide interval is greater than or equal to a significant difference. If the difference is greater than or equal to the significant difference, a step of determining the second wider interval as the wide distance is included. It is characterized by having.

Further, in the second determining step, the first
Performing an error process when it is determined that the predetermined number is neither the predetermined number nor the second predetermined number.

Further, the CMC7 character reading device of the present invention has a CMC7 having a wide bar interval and a narrow bar interval.
In the character reading device, the bar has a first threshold for judging whether the interval between the bars is a wide interval and a second threshold different from the first threshold for judging whether the interval is a narrow distance. A judgment means was provided.

[0061]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are for explanation, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, those skilled in the art can adopt embodiments in which each of these elements or all elements are replaced with equivalents, but these embodiments are also included in the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the outline of a multifunction device having a function of recognizing MICR-CMC7 font characters.

In the following, the MICR-CMC7 font character recognition function is described based on a multifunction device (hereinafter referred to as “printer”) 100 having a printer-based MICR-CMC7 font character (magnetic ink character) recognition function. explain.

The printer 100 performs journal printing and slip printing while a printer head (print head) 103 moves along a moving shaft 102 extending left and right of a main body 101. The printer head 103 of the present example is, for example, a wire dot type, and drives a wire built in the head 103 toward a platen 104 to impact the ink ribbon, thereby forming a roll paper 10.
5 or cut sheet 106 is printed. The printer head 103 is moved by printer head driving means using a timing belt or a pulse motor for head feed,
The paper moves left and right along the platen 104 to print at a predetermined position on the roll paper 105 or cut sheet paper 106. The roll paper 105 or the cut sheet 106 is fed at right angles to the moving direction of the printer head 103 by a paper feed mechanism including a feed roller group described below and a paper feed pulse motor. The roll paper 105 is the main body 10
1 from the rear 101b, passes between the platen 104 and the printer head 103 from the rear 101b, and
01 to the upper side 101c. Printer 100 of this example
Can set two rolls of paper 105, and can print journal paper for store records and receipt paper used as a receipt.

Further, the printer 100 can also process a cut sheet (check sheet) 106 such as a personal check having MICR data. The check paper 106 is guided between the printer head 103 and the platen 104 through a paper path to be described later from a paper insertion port 109 prepared in the front 101a of the main body 101. It is discharged from 101c.

In the following description, a case where the personal check 106 is used as a cut sheet will be described as an example. The printer of this embodiment can print on various forms such as forms and receipts in addition to the personal check. The personal check 106 referred to in this example is a check for personal use used for payment at a store and issued by a bank. On the front surface 106a of the personal check, a user account and the like are printed in MICR-CMC7 font characters 107. For MICR-CMC7 font characters, the character shape and print quality are standardized, and the print position on the personal check is also standardized. Therefore, a waveform corresponding to the MICR-CMC7 font character can be obtained by detecting a predetermined area of the personal check with the magnetic head, and the printed data can be determined from this waveform. At this time, before detection by the magnetic head, the MICR-CM
Apply a permanent magnet to the area with the C7 font character
ICR-CMC7 font characters are magnetized.

Surface 106a of personal check 106
Is further filled with the amount to be paid and the sign of the payer. Also, the back 10 of the personal check 106
In 6b, a record such as date and time of use, store name, amount of money, etc. is endorsed (endorsement printing) 108. When the store clerk receives the personal check,
The validity or invalidity of the personal check is confirmed from the data described in the CR-CMC7 font characters, and then the effective personal check is subjected to endorsement printing.

In the printer 100, the personal check 1 with the back surface 106 b facing upward is performed so that endorsement printing 108 can be performed by the printer head 103.
06 is set. Therefore, personal check 1
When 06 is inserted through the insertion slot 109, the MICR data 107 is placed downward along the right side of the printer body.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the multifunction device. FIG. 2 shows a configuration of a part related to recognition processing of MICR-CMC7 font characters arranged along the paper path 202 of the multifunction device (printer) 100.

The MICR-CMC printed on the check paper is sequentially printed from the paper insertion port 109 along the paper path 202.
Permanent magnet 203, MI for magnetizing 7 font characters
A magnetic head 204 for detecting a waveform based on CR-CMC7 font characters is provided. The check paper inserted from the insertion slot 109 is guided between the paper feed rollers 205 along the paper path 202, passes through the permanent magnet 203 and the magnetic head 204 in order, and is printed on the check paper by the MICR-CMC7 font. Characters are detected. Along the paper path 202, the print head 103
When the information such as the account described by the MICR-CMC7 font character is confirmed, the check paper is further transported by the paper feed roller 205, and the end printing can be continuously performed by the print head 103. It has become.

The magnetic head 204 that has detected the MICR-CMC7 font character sends a detected magnetic waveform to the processor 210 via the MICR character detection circuit 206. MIC
The R character detection circuit 206 includes an amplification circuit 207 that amplifies a minute voltage change due to a change in magnetic flux density detected by the magnetic head 204, and a filter circuit 208 that removes various noises and unnecessary signals due to poor printing of MICR characters. And an A / D conversion circuit 209 for A / D converting an analog signal passed through the filter circuit 208 and outputting a digital value. The filter circuit 208 can remove an unnecessary signal from the magnetic head 204 by using a cut-off frequency determined by the paper feed speed for the check paper and the length of the arrangement interval according to the MICR-CMC7 font character standard. I have. The processor 210 uses the MICR
The detected magnetic waveform and the detection conditions sent from the character detection circuit 206 are temporarily stored in the RAM 211.

The determination conditions for recognizing MICR-CMC7 font characters are stored in the ROM 212. However, the determination conditions can be changed by the input device 213, and the changed determination conditions are stored in the RAM 211. .

When the detection of the MICR-CMC7 font character is completed, the detected magnetic waveform temporarily stored in the RAM 211, the detection condition, and the changed determination condition are set as follows:
MI based on the determination condition stored in the ROM 212
Recognize CR-CMC7 font characters.

When the MICR-CMC7 font character can be recognized, the result is displayed or output to an external computer or the like. Of course, the detected magnetic waveform of the MICR-CMC7 font character is directly transferred to the computer,
It is also possible for the computer to perform processing relating to recognition of MICR-CMC7 font characters.

In the printer 100, the processor 2
10 also has a function of controlling a transport mechanism such as a paper feed roller 205, and controls a transport pulse motor 214 via a motor control circuit 215, for reading MICR-CMC7 font characters and for printing. Pulse motor 2
14 can also be used. Further, the processor 210 has a function of controlling a print control circuit 217 that performs printing using the printer head 103.

As described above, the printer 100 is a multifunction device having a function of reading MICR data printed on a cut sheet such as a check sheet in addition to a function of printing on a cut sheet. The respective functions are arranged so that both printing and reading of MICR data can be performed on the check paper sent along the same paper path.
It is possible to continuously read MICR-CMC7 font characters attached to the personal check and print data to the personal check, especially endorsement printing in this example.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of character recognition in the multifunction device.

Transport control means 303 of processor 210
Transports the check paper via the motor control circuit 215, and detects the MICR-CMC7 font characters by the magnetic head 204. The detected magnetic waveform detected by the magnetic head 204 is input to the processor 210 via the MICR character detection circuit 206.

The magnetic pattern detection means 304 of the processor 210 temporarily stores the detected magnetic waveform and the detected condition in the detected waveform storage section 310 of the RAM 211.

The determination conditions for recognizing MICR-CMC7 font characters are stored in the recognition determination condition storage unit 313 of the ROM 212. Also, MICR-CMC7
The determination condition for recognizing font characters is determined by the input device 2
13 the determination condition changing means 30 of the processor 210
2 can be changed, and the changed determination condition is stored in the determination condition change storage unit 31 of the RAM 211.
2 is stored.

When the detection of the MICR-CMC7 font characters is completed, the magnetic pattern cutout means 305 of the processor 210 detects the start position of each character from the detected magnetic waveform stored in the detected waveform storage section 310 of the RAM 211, and Cut out the detected magnetic waveform of the character.

Peak interval measuring means 3 of processor 210
06 measures six peak intervals from the detected magnetic waveform of one character cut out. Here, six peak intervals may be measured while detecting the detected magnetic waveform.

Bar interval calculating means 30 of processor 210
7 calculates the six bar intervals of the MICR-CMC7 font character from the six measured peak intervals based on the detected magnetic waveform and the detection conditions stored in the detected waveform storage unit 310 of the RAM 211.

The pattern conversion means 30 of the processor 210
8 is based on a recognition condition storage unit 313 of the ROM 212 and a change condition storage unit 312 of the RAM 211.
Each of the two bar intervals is converted into a bar interval pattern having a “wide” interval (= 1) or a “narrow” interval (= 0) (hereinafter, referred to as pattern conversion).

The magnetic pattern determination means 309 of the processor 210 recognizes and determines the pattern-converted MICR-CMC7 font characters based on the recognition determination condition storage unit 313 of the ROM 212. Magnetic pattern determination means 3
In 09, when the character is uniquely determined, the recognition result is stored in the recognition result storage unit 311 of the RAM 211. If the characters cannot be uniquely determined by the magnetic pattern determination means 309, the check sheet is
Error processing such as re-detecting the MICR-CMC7 font character by moving it again with respect to 04 or notifying the operator that the character could not be recognized is performed.

The control means 301 of the processor 210 includes a judgment condition changing means 302, a transport control means 303, a magnetic pattern detecting means 304, and a magnetic pattern cutting means 30.
5. Peak interval measuring means 306, bar interval calculating means 30
7. The pattern conversion unit 308 and the magnetic pattern determination unit 309 are controlled in association with each other.

The method of recognizing a magnetic pattern according to the present invention magnetically detects an area formed by a plurality of bars to which a plurality of predetermined magnetic patterns are attached, and detects a plurality of regions from a detected magnetic waveform of the detected magnetic pattern. A magnetic pattern reading step for obtaining a peak interval representing a distance between two adjacent peaks of the peak, and a width between two adjacent bars of the plurality of bars from the plurality of peak intervals thus obtained. To a bar interval pattern represented by two values, thereby recognizing the magnetic pattern as a predetermined character. For example, in the case of MICR-CMC7 font characters, a step of converting the peak interval of the detected magnetic waveform acquired by the magnetic head into a bar interval pattern, comparing the converted bar interval pattern with the correspondence table of FIG. 7, and recognizing the character. It has.

In the magnetic pattern recognizing method according to the present invention, the magnetic pattern recognizing step calculates a bar interval which is a distance between two adjacent bars of the plurality of bars constituting the magnetic pattern from the detected magnetic waveform. A bar interval calculating step, a pattern converting step of converting the bar interval calculated by the bar interval calculating step into a bar interval pattern of “wide” or “narrow” interval, and one magnetic field converted by the pattern converting step A magnetic pattern determining step of determining a magnetic pattern from the bar interval pattern of the pattern. For example, when the bar interval is a “wide” interval, the bar interval pattern is set to 1 and
When the interval is “narrow”, the bar interval pattern is set to 0.

Further, according to the magnetic pattern recognition method of the present invention, in the pattern conversion step, when the bar interval is equal to or larger than a maximum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range, the bar interval pattern of the bar interval is determined to be a “wide” interval. When the bar interval is equal to or smaller than the minimum boundary value of the predetermined determination boundary range, the bar interval pattern of the bar interval can be determined to be a “narrow” interval. That is, it is possible to reliably determine a bar interval in which the bar interval pattern is a “wide” interval.

Further, in the magnetic pattern recognition method of the present invention, the pattern conversion step is such that in one magnetic pattern, the ratio of the number of “wide” intervals to the number of “narrow” intervals in the bar interval pattern is one. When there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals, the bar interval pattern of the second widest bar interval is defined as a “wide” interval. Can be determined.
For example, in MICR-CMC7 font characters,
When the ratio of the number of “wide” intervals to the number of “narrow” intervals is 1: 5, the “wide” intervals are “narrow” intervals because the MICR-CMC7 font character is folded. Bar spacing may exist. Therefore, M
Since the ICR-CMC7 font character is folded, it is possible to determine the bar interval in which the “wide” interval becomes the “narrow” interval.

Further, in the magnetic pattern recognition method according to the present invention, the pattern conversion step is such that, in one magnetic pattern, the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals, the predetermined judgment boundary When the median of the range and the predetermined adjustment coefficient satisfy the following conditions, it can be determined that there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals.

Second widest bar interval> = Third widest bar interval + (median of determination boundary range-Third widest bar interval) * Adjustment coefficient In the determination step, when the ratio of the number of “wide” intervals to the number of “narrow” intervals in the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern is 2 to 4, the magnetic pattern can be uniquely determined. .

In the method for recognizing a magnetic pattern according to the present invention, the step of reading a magnetic pattern includes the step of detecting a magnetic pattern and a detecting condition for obtaining a detected magnetic waveform and a detecting condition, and the step of detecting a magnetic pattern obtained by the magnetic pattern detecting step. And a distance between two adjacent peaks from a plurality of peaks of the detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern extracted by the magnetic pattern extracting step. A peak interval measuring step. For example, as a detection condition, a speed at which a sheet of CMC7 check is read is required. The detected magnetic waveform obtained differs depending on the reading speed.

The above-described magnetic pattern recognition method of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the character recognition process in the multifunction device.

First, the starting position of a character is detected from the detected magnetic waveform stored in the RAM 211 (step S4).
01). For example, the MICR-CMC7 font character "S
For “V”, a detected magnetic waveform 911 as shown in FIG. 9B is obtained. The first peak (the leftmost peak in FIG. 9B) of the detected magnetic waveform 911 is identified as the start position of the character.

Next, a detected magnetic waveform for one character is cut out (step S402). For example, as shown in FIG. 9B, the detected magnetic waveform of one cut-out character has seven peaks.

Next, a distance between two adjacent peaks from the peak of the detected magnetic waveform for one character (hereinafter, referred to as a peak interval) is measured (step S40).
3). That is, six peak intervals are measured.

Next, the detected waveform storage section 31 of the RAM 211
Based on the detection condition stored in 0, the bar interval of the MICR-CMC7 font character is calculated from the peak interval of the measured detected magnetic waveform (step S404).

Next, based on the recognition determination condition storage unit 313 stored in the ROM 212, the calculated bar interval is converted into a bar interval pattern of “wide” interval (= 1) or “narrow” interval (= 0). Perform pattern conversion (step S40)
5). Further, if it is not possible to determine either the “wide” interval or the “narrow” interval, the calculated bar interval is set as the “undeterminable” interval (=?). The pattern conversion in step S405 is referred to as a first pattern conversion. The conversion conditions for the first pattern conversion are as follows. Here, the bar interval pattern is P, the bar interval is L, the “wide” interval threshold of the bar interval is R1 (mm), and the “narrow” interval threshold of the bar interval is R2 (m).
m).

When L> = R1, P = 1 When R1>L> R2, P =? When L = <R2, P = 0 In step S405, the bar interval pattern surely determines a bar interval that is a “wide” interval.

Steps S404 and S405 are repeatedly executed for all the peak intervals of one character, that is, for six peak intervals, and M for one character is obtained.
The bar interval of the ICR-CMC7 font character is converted into the first pattern (step S406). When the first pattern conversion for one character is completed (Step S406; Yes)
Moves to the next step S407. If the first pattern conversion for one character is not completed (step S40)
6; No), and return to step S404.

Next, the first pattern-converted MICR-
In the bar interval pattern of CMC7 font characters, when the number of “wide” intervals of the bar interval is N1, N1 is 2
It is determined whether the number is (step S407). FIG.
As can be seen from the correspondence table, when the character is a number or a symbol, there are two N1s. Therefore, if the detected character is a number or a symbol (step S407; Ye
s) Then, proceed to the next step S408.

Next, the first pattern-converted MICR-
In the bar interval pattern of CMC7 font characters, the number of “narrow” intervals of the bar interval is N0, and the number of “undeterminable” intervals of the bar interval is N? , N1: N0: N
? = 2: 4: 0 (Step S4)
08). When there is a bar interval of “undeterminable” interval, characters cannot be recognized. That is, N? Only when = 0, the character is determined to be a number or a symbol. Therefore, N1: N0: N? = 2: 4: 0, that is, if it is determined that the detected character is a number or a symbol (Step S408; Yes), the process moves to the next Step S409.

MICR-CMC after first pattern conversion
The bar interval pattern of the seven font characters is uniquely recognized based on the recognition determination condition storage unit 313 of the ROM 212, that is, based on the correspondence table of FIG. 7, and the character is determined (step S409).

On the other hand, in the bar interval pattern of MICR-CMC7 font characters, the number N1 of "wide" intervals, the number N0 of "narrow" intervals, and the number N? Is N1: N0: N? If not 2: 4: 0 (step S408; No), the character is determined to be unrecognizable and error processing is executed (step S413).
The character recognition processing ends. Here, the characters to be recognized are numbers or symbols. In the bar interval pattern of the MICR-CMC7 font character, if the number N1 of the "wide" interval of the bar interval is not two (step S
407; No), the number N1 of “wide” bar intervals is 1
It is determined whether the number is (step S410).

If the number N1 of the "wide" bar intervals is one (step S410; Yes), FIG. 9B
It is possible that the “wide” interval (= 1) of the bar intervals has become a “narrow” interval (= 0) due to the bending of the check sheet as shown in FIG. Therefore, the pattern conversion is further performed in consideration of the case where the “wide” interval (= 1) of the bar intervals becomes the “narrow” interval (= 0) due to the bending of the check sheet. This pattern conversion is referred to as a second pattern conversion.

When the check sheet is folded, the "wide" interval (= 1) of the bar intervals may become the "narrow" interval (= 0). It is. Therefore, when the number N1 of the "wide" bar intervals is not one (step S4).
10; No), the character is recognized as unrecognizable, error processing is performed (step S413), and the character recognition processing ends. Here, the characters to be recognized are numbers or symbols.

The conversion conditions for the second pattern conversion are as follows. Here, let L2 be the second widest bar interval among the six bar intervals of the MICR-CMC7 font character, and 3
Let L3 be the widest bar interval. That is, step S4
In 05, the first wide bar interval among the five bar intervals that were not determined to be the “wide” bar intervals is L.
2, and the second widest bar interval is L3. Further, the bar interval pattern of the bar interval L2 is P2, the "wide" interval threshold of the bar interval is R1, the "narrow" interval threshold of the bar interval is R2, and the adjustment coefficient is C.

L2> = L3 + ｛(R1 + R2) / 2
When −L3｝ * C, P2 = 1 L2 <L3 + ｛(R1 + R2) / 2−L3｝ * C
In this case, P2 remains the first pattern conversion.

L2> = L3 + ｛(R1 + R2) / 2
-L3｝ * C is satisfied (Step S411; Y
es) means that a significant difference between the bar interval L2 and the bar interval L3 can be sufficiently obtained. When the check sheet is folded, the “wide” interval (= 1) of the bar interval becomes a “narrow” interval ( = 0). Therefore, in step S405, "wide"
The pattern conversion is performed by setting the bar interval L2 that is not determined to be the interval as a “wide” interval (= 1) (step S41).
2).

Next, the second pattern-converted MICR-
In the bar interval pattern of the CMC7 font character, N
1: N0: N? = 2: 4: 0 is determined (step S408). When there is a bar interval of “undeterminable” interval, characters cannot be recognized. That is, N? Only when = 0, the character is determined to be a number or a symbol. Therefore, N1: N0: N? = 2:
If it is 4: 0, that is, if it is determined that the detected character is a number or a symbol (step S408; Y
es) Then, proceed to the next step S409.

MICR-CMC after second pattern conversion
The bar interval pattern of the seven font characters is uniquely recognized based on the recognition determination condition storage unit 313 of the ROM 212, that is, based on the correspondence table of FIG. 7, and the character is determined (step S409).

L2 <L3 + ｛(R1 + R2) / 2
-L3｝ * C is satisfied (Step S411; N
In the case of o), it is determined that the character cannot be recognized, an error process is performed (step S413), and the character recognition process ends.

After uniquely recognizing the character, step S
Steps S413 to S413 are repeated to determine whether or not the character recognition processing has been executed for all the characters on the check sheet (step S414).

In step S413, after performing the error process with the character being unrecognizable, the process proceeds to step S414 for executing the next character recognition process without terminating the above-described character recognition process. Is also good.

When character recognition processing has been executed for all characters on the check paper (step S414; Y)
es) ends the character recognition processing. If the character recognition processing has not been executed for all the characters on the check sheet (step S414; No), the process returns to step S401 to recognize the next character.

In step S 413, error recognition is performed on the non-recognizable characters other than numbers or symbols. Here, the check paper is automatically back-fed along the paper path 202, and It is also conceivable to read MICR-CMC7 font characters by passing them through the front surface. Alternatively, it is also possible to indicate to the operator an unrecognized location and manually input the location. Alternatively, the check paper may be discharged from the printer 100 assuming that the MICR-CMC7 font character could not be identified.

FIG. 5 shows a first conversion pattern and a second conversion pattern for converting a bar interval calculated from a detected magnetic waveform for one character into a pattern of a “wide” interval (= 1) or a “narrow” interval (= 0). FIG. 4 shows an explanatory diagram of a pattern.

FIG. 5A shows a MICR-CM printed on a check sheet in a normal state without a bent portion.
3 shows a distribution diagram of bar intervals of C7 font characters.

The bar interval of the MICR-CMC7 font characters printed on the check sheet in the normal state without the bent portion is 0.5 mm as shown in FIG.
And 0.3 mm. This is MICR-C
When printing MC7 font characters on check paper, the bar spacing pattern is set to a "wide" spacing of 0.5 mm,
The “narrow” bar interval is for printing with a target of 0.3 mm.

Therefore, in the check sheet in a normal state having no bent portion, the bar interval printed at the “wide” interval is distributed near 0.5 mm, and the bar interval printed at the “narrow” interval. Are distributed near 0.3 mm. Here, a distribution near 0.5 mm is referred to as a “wide” interval distribution 501, and a distribution near 0.3 mm is referred to as a “narrow” interval distribution 502.

When judging the bar interval of MICR-CMC7 font characters printed on a check sheet in a normal state having no bent portion as the “wide” interval or the “narrow” interval of the bar interval pattern, the judgment boundary is used. Range 503
Judgment based on. The determination boundary range 503 has a width, and the boundary value with the “wide” interval is set to the “wide” interval threshold 50.
4 and the boundary value with the “narrow” interval is the “narrow” interval threshold 5
05. Here, the value of the “wide” interval threshold 504 is R
1, and the value of the “narrow” interval threshold 505 is R2. A bar interval range equal to or larger than the “wide” interval threshold 504 is defined as a “wide” interval range 506, and a bar interval range equal to or smaller than the “narrow” interval threshold 505 is defined as a “narrow” interval range 507.

FIG. 5B is a distribution diagram of the bar intervals of the MICR-CMC7 font character printed on the check sheet when there are folds in the bar intervals.

The distribution diagram of the bar intervals changes from the normal distribution indicated by the dashed line to the distribution indicated by the solid line due to the presence of the fold. Here, a distribution in which the “wide” interval distribution 501 in the normal state is shifted by the fold is referred to as a “wide” interval shift distribution 508, and a distribution in which the “narrow” interval distribution 502 in the normal state is shifted by the fold is “narrow” interval. A transition distribution 509 is set.

As can be seen from the figure, the “wide” interval transition distribution 508 overlaps the judgment boundary range 503 or overlaps the “narrow” interval range 507.

The present invention provides a two-stage pattern conversion (hereinafter, referred to as a first pattern conversion and a second pattern conversion).
, The calculated bar interval is changed to “wide” interval (= 1)
Alternatively, the pattern is converted to a “narrow” interval (= 0). First, the first pattern conversion converts the calculated bar interval into a “wide” interval or a “narrow” interval. Here, a case where it is not possible to determine a “wide” interval or a “narrow” interval is defined as an “impossible to determine” interval (=?). The conversion conditions for the first pattern conversion are as follows.

When L> = R1, P = 1 When R1>L> R2, P =? When L = <R2, the calculated six bar intervals for one character P = 0 are set to L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, and L6 in the descending order of the bar intervals, that is, L1> = L2> = L3. > = L4> = L5> = L6, and when the bar interval patterns corresponding to the respective bar intervals are P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6, L2
When> = R1> L3, (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6) = (1,
1,0,0,0,0) and the MICR-CMC7 printed on the check paper
Font characters can be recognized as numbers or symbols.
When L1 >> = R1> L2, (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6) = (1,
0,0,0,0,0). Note that the bar interval pattern becomes “?” Instead of “0”, and “1”, “0” and “?” May be mixed.

However, as shown in FIG. 5B, in a normal state where no fold exists, the bar interval L2 ′ which should be a “wide” interval is due to the presence of the fold.
There is also a possibility that the bar interval L2 of the "narrow" interval has been reached.

Therefore, the second pattern conversion uses the bar interval L
When a significant difference between the bar interval L2 and the bar interval L3 can be sufficiently obtained, the bar interval L2 is set to a "wide" interval. Here, the conversion conditions of the second pattern conversion are as follows. Here, the adjustment coefficient is C (=
4/5).

L2> = L3 + ｛(R1 + R2) / 2
When −L3｝ * C, P2 = 1 L2 <L3 + ｛(R1 + R2) / 2−L3｝ * C
In this case, P2 remains the first pattern conversion.

Therefore, L1 >> = R1> L2 and L2 >> = L3 + {(R1 + R2) / 2−L3} *
In the case of C, (P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6) = (1,
1,0,0,0,0) and the MICR-CMC7 printed on the check paper
Font characters can be recognized as numbers or symbols.

As described above, the bar interval of the MICR-CMC7 font character printed on the check sheet is determined by the first pattern conversion and the second pattern conversion.
MC7 font characters can also be recognized as characters.

The information recording medium of the present invention can also record a program having the steps of the above magnetic pattern recognition method.

The information recording medium of the present invention includes a compact disk, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk,
Alternatively, it may be a magnetic tape.

The magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention
A region formed with a plurality of bars and provided with a plurality of predetermined magnetic patterns is magnetically detected, and a distance between two adjacent peaks of the plurality of peaks is represented from a detected magnetic waveform of the detected magnetic pattern. Magnetic pattern reading means for obtaining a peak interval, and converting the plurality of peak intervals thus obtained into a bar interval pattern expressing the width between two bars adjacent to each other by two values. Magnetic pattern recognition means for recognizing a magnetic pattern as a predetermined character.

Also, the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention
A magnetic pattern recognition unit configured to calculate a bar interval which is a distance between two adjacent bars of the plurality of bars forming the magnetic pattern from the detected magnetic waveform; and a bar interval calculated by the bar interval calculating unit. Pattern conversion means for converting an interval into a bar interval pattern having a "wide" interval or a "narrow"interval; and magnetic pattern determination means for determining a magnetic pattern from a bar interval pattern of one magnetic pattern converted by the pattern conversion means And

Also, the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention
When the bar interval is equal to or greater than the maximum boundary value of the predetermined determination boundary range, the pattern conversion means determines the bar interval pattern of the bar interval to be a “wide” interval, and the bar interval is equal to or less than the minimum boundary value of the predetermined determination boundary range. , The bar interval pattern of the bar intervals can be determined to be a “narrow” interval.

Also, the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention
In one magnetic pattern, the ratio of the number of "wide" intervals to the number of "narrow" intervals in the bar interval pattern is 1: 5, and the putter conversion means is the second widest of the bar intervals. When there is a significant difference between the bar spacing and the third widest bar spacing, the bar spacing pattern with the second widest bar spacing can be determined as a "wide" spacing.

Further, the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention
The pattern conversion means includes:
The second widest bar interval among the bar intervals when the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals, the median of the predetermined determination boundary range, and the predetermined adjustment coefficient satisfy the following conditions. It can be determined that there is a significant difference between and the third largest bar interval.

Second widest bar interval> = Third widest bar interval + (median of determination boundary range-Third widest bar interval) * Adjustment coefficient The magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention also has a magnetic pattern determination. When the ratio of the number of “wide” intervals to the number of “narrow” intervals of the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern is 2 to 4, the magnetic pattern can be uniquely determined.

Further, the magnetic pattern recognition device of the present invention
Magnetic pattern reading means for obtaining a detected magnetic waveform and a detection condition, magnetic pattern detection means, and magnetic pattern cutout means for cutting out a detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern from the detected magnetic waveform obtained by the magnetic pattern detection means; A peak interval measuring means for measuring a distance between two adjacent peaks from a plurality of peaks of the detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern cut out by the magnetic pattern cutting means.

Further, the multifunction device of the present invention includes the means of the magnetic pattern recognition device described above.

Further, the multifunction device of the present invention has a paper feeding means provided with a pulse motor, a printing means for printing on a paper piece fed by the paper feeding means, and a paper feeding means provided on the paper piece fed by the paper feeding means. Magnetic detecting means for detecting a magnetic pattern.

[0144]

As described above, according to the present invention,
The following effects are obtained.

In character recognition of CMC7 check paper on which MICR-CMC7 font characters are printed, the MIC
When the R-CMC7 font character is in a folded state, the character cannot be recognized or is erroneously recognized. However, the folded MICR-CMC7 font character on the CMC7 check sheet is obtained by the following method. Also provided is a method for recognizing a magnetic pattern that can be recognized as numbers and symbols.

In recognizing a magnetic pattern, a detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern is cut out from the obtained detected magnetic waveform. A plurality of peak intervals of the extracted detected magnetic waveform are measured. A plurality of bar intervals of the magnetic pattern are calculated from the plurality of measured peak intervals. Each of the calculated plurality of bar intervals is converted into a “wide” interval or a “narrow” interval of the bar interval pattern based on a two-step determination condition. From the converted bar interval pattern of one magnetic pattern, based on the bar interval pattern and character correspondence table,
Recognize characters.

The information recording medium on which the program for the magnetic pattern recognition method described above is recorded can be easily distributed or sold as a software product.

Further, it is possible to provide a magnetic pattern recognition device and a multifunction device having means for executing the above-described magnetic pattern recognition method.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a multifunction device.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the multifunction device.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of character recognition in the multifunction device.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a character recognition process in the multifunction device.

FIG. 5 (a) MICR-C without bent portion
It is a distribution diagram of bar intervals of MC7 font characters, and (b) is a distribution diagram of bar intervals of MICR-CMC7 font characters having a bent portion.

FIG. 6 is an example of MICR-CMC7 font characters showing numbers and symbols.

FIG. 7 is a correspondence table of bar interval patterns of MICR-CMC7 font characters.

8 (a) is a cutaway view of a CMC7 check sheet before bending, FIG. 8 (b) is a cutaway view of a CMC7 check sheet after bending, (c) a bar interval before bending, and (d) a bar interval after bending. FIG.

9A is a diagram showing a relationship between a bar of a MICR-CMC7 font character and a detected magnetic waveform, and FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a relationship between a detected magnetic waveform before a MICR-CMC7 font character is bent and a detected magnetic waveform after the MICR-CMC7 font character is bent. .

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 multifunction device (printer) 210 processor 211 RAM 212 ROM 213 input device 301 control means 302 determination condition changing means 303 transport control means 304 magnetic pattern detection means 305 magnetic pattern cutout means 306 peak interval measurement means 307 bar interval calculation means 308 pattern Conversion unit 309 Magnetic pattern determination unit 310 Detected waveform storage unit 311 Recognition result storage unit 312 Judgment condition change storage unit 313 Recognition judgment condition storage unit 501 Bar interval distribution at “wide” interval 502 Bar interval distribution at “narrow” interval 503 Judgment boundary Range 504 "Wide" spacing threshold 505 "Narrow" spacing threshold 506 "Wide" spacing range 507 "Narrow" spacing range 508 Bar spacing distribution of "Wide" spacing in folded state 509 "Narrow" in folded state Bar interval distribution of the interval

Claims (30)

[Claims] 1. A magnetic field detecting unit comprising: a plurality of bars; a plurality of predetermined magnetic patterns; and two adjacent peaks from a detected magnetic waveform of the detected magnetic pattern. A magnetic pattern reading step for obtaining a peak interval representing a distance between the two, and from the plurality of peak intervals thus obtained, the width between two adjacent bars of the plurality of bars is represented by two values. A magnetic pattern recognition step of recognizing the magnetic pattern as a predetermined character by converting the magnetic pattern into a bar interval pattern to be represented. 2. A bar interval calculating step of calculating a bar interval, which is a distance between two adjacent bars of the plurality of bars constituting the magnetic pattern, from the detected magnetic waveform, A pattern conversion step of converting the bar interval calculated by the bar interval calculation step into a bar interval pattern having a “wide” interval or a “narrow” interval; and the one of the magnetic patterns converted by the pattern conversion step. 2. A magnetic pattern determining step of determining the magnetic pattern from a bar interval pattern.
3. A method for recognizing a magnetic pattern according to item 1. 3. The pattern conversion step, when the bar interval is equal to or larger than a maximum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range, the bar interval pattern of the bar interval is determined to be the “wide” interval, and the bar interval is determined. 3. The magnetic pattern recognition method according to claim 2, wherein when is smaller than or equal to a minimum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range, the bar interval pattern of the bar intervals is determined to be the "narrow" interval. 4. The pattern conversion step, wherein in one magnetic pattern, a ratio of the number of the “wide” intervals to the number of the “narrow” intervals of the bar interval pattern is 1: 5, When there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals, the bar interval pattern of the second widest bar interval is determined to be a “wide” interval. 4. The method for recognizing a magnetic pattern according to claim 3, wherein: 5. The method according to claim 5, wherein the pattern conversion step comprises: in the one magnetic pattern, the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals; a median value of the predetermined determination boundary range; The method according to claim 4, wherein when the predetermined adjustment coefficient satisfies the following condition, it is determined that there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals. 3. A method for recognizing a magnetic pattern according to item 1. Second widest bar interval> = Third widest bar interval
+ (Median of judgment boundary range-third widest bar interval) * Adjustment coefficient 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the number of the “wide” intervals to the number of the “narrow” intervals of the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern is 2 to 4. 3. The magnetic pattern recognition method according to claim 2, wherein the magnetic pattern can be uniquely determined. 7. The magnetic pattern reading step,
A magnetic pattern detecting step of obtaining the detected magnetic waveform and the detection condition; a magnetic pattern cutting step of cutting out one detected magnetic waveform of the magnetic pattern from the detected magnetic waveform obtained by the magnetic pattern detecting step; A peak interval measuring step of measuring a distance between two adjacent peaks from a plurality of peaks of the detected magnetic waveform of one magnetic pattern extracted by the pattern extracting step. Item 3. A method for recognizing a magnetic pattern according to Item 1. 8. The magnetic pattern recognition method according to claim 1, further comprising a determination condition changing step of changing a determination condition for recognizing the magnetic pattern. 9. The magnetic pattern recognition method according to claim 8, wherein an adjustment coefficient can be changed as the determination condition. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic pattern is a magnetic ink character. 11. An information recording medium in which a program having the steps of the magnetic pattern recognition method according to claim 1 is recorded. 12. The information recording medium includes a compact disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, and a hard disk.
The information recording medium according to claim 11, wherein the information recording medium is a disk, a magneto-optical disk, a digital video disk, or a magnetic tape. 13. Magnetically detecting an area formed by a plurality of bars and provided with a plurality of predetermined magnetic patterns,
Magnetic pattern reading means for acquiring a peak interval representing a distance between two adjacent peaks of a plurality of peaks from a detected magnetic waveform of the detected magnetic pattern, and from the plurality of peak intervals thus acquired, Magnetic pattern recognition means for recognizing the magnetic pattern as a predetermined character by converting a width between two adjacent bars of the plurality of bars into a bar interval pattern represented by two values. Characteristic magnetic pattern recognition device. 14. A bar interval calculating unit, wherein the magnetic pattern recognizing unit calculates a bar interval, which is a distance between two adjacent bars of the plurality of bars constituting the magnetic pattern, from the detected magnetic waveform, A pattern conversion unit configured to convert the bar interval calculated by the bar interval calculation unit into a bar interval pattern having a “wide” interval or a “narrow” interval; and the one of the magnetic patterns converted by the pattern conversion unit. 14. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 13, further comprising: a magnetic pattern determining unit that determines the magnetic pattern from a bar interval pattern. 15. The method according to claim 15, wherein the pattern conversion unit determines that the bar interval is equal to or larger than a maximum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range.
The bar interval pattern of the bar intervals is determined as the “wide” interval, and when the bar interval is equal to or less than a minimum boundary value of a predetermined determination boundary range, the bar interval pattern of the bar interval is determined as the “narrow” interval. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 14, wherein: 16. The putter conversion means, wherein in one magnetic pattern, the ratio of the number of “wide” intervals to the number of “narrow” intervals in the bar interval pattern is one.
When there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals, the bar interval pattern of the second widest bar interval is set to “wide”. The distance is determined as the "interval".
6. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to item 5. 17. The method according to claim 17, wherein, in one magnetic pattern, the second and third widest bar intervals among the bar intervals, a median value of the predetermined determination boundary range, 17. The method according to claim 16, wherein when the predetermined adjustment coefficient satisfies the following condition, it is determined that there is a significant difference between the second widest bar interval and the third widest bar interval among the bar intervals. 3. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 1. Second widest bar interval> = Third widest bar interval
+ (Median of judgment boundary range-third widest bar interval) * Adjustment coefficient 18. When the ratio of the number of “wide” intervals to the number of “narrow” intervals of the bar interval pattern in one magnetic pattern is two to four, 15. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 14, wherein the magnetic pattern can be uniquely determined. 19. The magnetic pattern reading means for obtaining the detected magnetic waveform and the detection condition, and detecting one magnetic pattern from the detected magnetic waveform obtained by the magnetic pattern detecting means. A magnetic pattern cutout means for cutting out a magnetic waveform, and a plurality of peaks of the detected magnetic waveform of the magnetic pattern for one piece cut out by the magnetic pattern cutout means
14. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 13, further comprising: peak interval measuring means for measuring a distance between two adjacent peaks. 20. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 13, further comprising a determination condition changing unit that can change a determination condition for recognizing the magnetic pattern. 21. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 20, wherein an adjustment coefficient can be changed as the determination condition. 22. The magnetic pattern recognition device according to claim 13, wherein the magnetic pattern is a magnetic ink character. 23. A multi-processing apparatus comprising the means of the magnetic pattern recognition apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 22. 24. A paper feeding means provided with a pulse motor,
The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: printing means for printing on the paper piece sent by the paper feeding means; and magnetic detecting means for detecting a magnetic pattern applied to the paper piece sent by the paper feeding means. Item 24. The multifunction device according to item 23. 25. A method for reading seven characters of CMC on a check sheet, in which a bar interval has a wide interval and a narrow interval, a first judging step of judging whether an interval between adjacent bars is a wide distance or a narrow distance. And a second determining step of determining whether the number determined as the wide distance is a first predetermined number.
How to read characters. 26. The method according to claim 25, wherein in the second determining step, when it is determined that the number determined as the wide distance is a second predetermined number different from the first predetermined number, A method of reading seven CMC characters, comprising the step of rearranging adjacent intervals of the bar in the order of the adjacent intervals. 27. The method according to claim 27, wherein the first determining step has a first threshold value for determining whether the distance is wide and a second threshold value different from the first threshold value for determining whether the distance is narrow. 25. The method according to claim 25, wherein
6. Reading method of 7 characters of CMC described in 6. 28. A third judgment for judging whether or not the interval between the second widest interval and the third widest interval among the intervals rearranged in the second rearrangement step is a significant difference or more. 28. The method according to claim 26, further comprising the step of determining the second widest interval as the widest distance if the difference is equal to or greater than the significant difference. 29. The method according to claim 25, further comprising the step of performing error processing when it is determined in the second determining step that the number is neither the first predetermined number nor the second predetermined number. How to read the described 7 characters of CMC. 30. An apparatus for reading seven characters of CMC in which a bar interval has a wide interval and a narrow interval, wherein a first threshold value for judging whether an interval between adjacent bars is a wide interval and a narrow distance are judged. Therefore, an apparatus for reading seven characters of CMC, comprising a determination means having a second threshold value different from the first threshold value.